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1. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups of the flour and the yeast.
2. In a saucepan, combine the milk, shortening, salt, and sugar.
3. Heat milk mixture on the stove at medium heat. Keep a thermometer stuck in there to watch the temperature.
4. When mixture reaches 115 degrees, take saucepan off the burner. The shortening should be melted. The temperature will rise afterward, so do not pour into flour mixture immediately. Too much heat will kill the yeast and leave you with hard loaves.
5. When the mixture is BELOW 115 degrees, pour onto flour mixture. Mix.
6. Gradually add the rest of the flour. The resulting dough should stiffly elastic, and not sticky.
7. Knead dough. This can be done manually or with a mixer, but either way, remember it cannot be kneaded too much. Form a ball with the dough, and with a knife, cut the ball in half, then, form the two halves into loaves (ovals).
11. Spray two bread pans with cooking spray and place the loaves in them.
12. Microwave a cup of water for one minute on high.
13. Meanwhile, pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
13. Leave the cup in the microwave. Place the bread pans in the microwave, and follow the microwave directions below till the loaves have risen above the pan edges.
3 minutes on 20% (power level button on most microwaves: 3 or 30)
3 minutes rest
3 minutes on 20%
3 minutes rest
3 minutes on 20%
14. Once oven is preheated and loaves are risen, put bread in the oven, and set timer for 40 minutes.
15. After bread is baked, cool, and then slice and serve with butter (not margarine).